From: Gilad Ben-Yossef (gilad_at_nonexisting.hamakor.org.il)
Date: Wed 28 Jul 2004 - 11:49:08 IDT
Howdie,
First, I am not a lawyer, but I do have some experience with these
things. I was also just present in a BOF session in OLS which discussed
GPLed violations with specific regards to embedded systems and was
hosted by Harald Welte, current IPTables maintainer that has just won
several off courst and one on court law suites related to GPL violation
in embedded devices. (see
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20040725150736471 for example).
Omer Zak wrote:
> Where can I find information about the following issues:
> 1. Using GPLed software on embedded hardware, where the software is on
> ROM and cannot be modified by regular users.
There is a legal view that the GPL actually mandates you to allow the
end user to run modified software on the original device. Mind you -
this not my view, it is the view of Harald Welte (see above) lawyers. In
the eyes of those that holds this view, you are mandated to provide a
way to replace the GPLed software on the device with your own version
and still have a working device. This includes the duty to supply any
utility, encryption keys needed to sign new versions(!) and so on and so
forth needed to do this.
> 2. What happens if the system must not be modifiable by normal users
due to regulatory issues (such as WiFi cards or medical equipment), but the
> manufactures wishes to use GPLed software to implement parts of the
system software.
That's very simple: if you are not allowed to give users the ability to
change the software, you are not allowed to distribute said GPLed
software. Pure and simple.
Once again, the views above are not my own, I am simply repeating views
by the legal experts (mind you, in Germen law!) that managed to get the
GPLed enforced in a Germen court in an embedded system case.
Cheers,
Gilad
>
-- Gilad Ben-Yossef <gilad_at_benyossef.com> Codefidence. A name you can trust(TM) http://www.codefidence.com "Those that can, do. Those that can't, complain". -- Linus Torvalds ================================================================= To unsubscribe, send mail to linux-il-request_at_linux.org.il with the word "unsubscribe" in the message body, e.g., run the command echo unsubscribe | mail linux-il-request_at_linux.org.il
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